Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ROME325
2009-03-19 10:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Rome
Cable title:
BLUE LANTERN CHECK ON LICENSE 050109951: RIFLES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0002 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHRO #0325 0781030 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 191030Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY ROME TO SECSTATE WASHDC 1790
UNCLAS ROME 000325
SIPDIS
PM/DTCC: BALLARD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC IT
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN CHECK ON LICENSE 050109951: RIFLES
REF: SECSTATE 1420
UNCLAS ROME 000325
SIPDIS
PM/DTCC: BALLARD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC IT
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN CHECK ON LICENSE 050109951: RIFLES
REF: SECSTATE 1420
1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph
6.
2. (SBU) Summary: Post performed a Level 3 Blue Lantern
Post Shipment End Use Check on Ditta Individuale Adriano De
Rossi, a Rome-based bona fide gun dealer. The sensitive
items -- license number 050109951 -- were properly secured
and the company's management professed familiarity with US
export controls as well as restrictions on re-transfer of
sensitive items. The company asked for clarification on why
certain high precision rifles were approved for export
licenses by the State Department, while others that in the
company's view were almost identical, were rejected. End
Summary.
3. (SBU) Econoffs performed a site visit to Ditta
Individuale Adriano De Rossi, a Rome-based gun dealer on 20
January, 2009. De Rossi is the exclusive dealer for McMillen
rifles in Italy. It is also the exclusive supplier for EDM
Arms, Pedrot Ordinance Factory, US Optics, and Ebelstock.
The company was founded in 2004 as a shooting range called
"Shooting Paradise," and in 2007 began selling weapons. It
began to import sensitive weapons from the US in the summer
of 2008. It has annual revenue of about 90,000 Euros, though
its future revenue will be highly dependent upon securing
export licenses from the State Department, De Rossi said.
The other services sold by the company are sniper training
for ITALIAN Special Forces and production of reactive still
targets for long-range shooting. De Rossi said his company
refuses to provide sniper training to civilians. The company
also imports and tests rifles for the Carabinieri, Italy's
paramilitary police service.
4. (SBU) Econoffs verified the presence of 3 McMillan
TAC-308 Bolt Action Rifles, .308 WIN Caliber. One gun listed
in Ref A --a McMillan TAC 338 Bolt Action Rifle, serial
number 732 RLL - was not present; De Rossi said it was
serving as a demonstration unit with the Carabinieri. De
Rossi had imported one of the rifles as a demo unit for the
Italian Ministry of Defense, and hoped to secure a larger
contract if the ITALIAN government gave it favorable reviews.
De Rossi explained that the ITALIAN government prefers to
purchase weapons through ITALIAN intermediaries rather than
buying directly from a non-Italian foreign-based supplier.
De Rossi was familiar with the regulations governing the
import of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions
on re-transfer or re-export.
5. (SBU) De Rossi's regular customer is the ITALIAN
Ministry of Defense and, to a lesser extent, the Carabinieri.
The company also sells via gun shops to civilians who have
the appropriate licenses. The gun shops are located in
various provinces of Italy. De Rossi said ITALIAN law
prohibits selling a weapon to a non-resident. He also noted
that all purchases had to be accompanied by a form from the
buyer's local police station, to ensure the authorities knew
the location of all rifles. According to De Rossi, civilians
typically use the guns he sells for target practice, and
occasionally for the hunting of wild boar. De Rossi noted
that many customers wished to purchase .50 caliber versions
of high-precision rifles, but he was restricted under ITALIAN
law to selling .223 or .308 caliber rifles. These types of
rifles are typically sold to individual customers for sport
purposes.
6. (SBU) De Rossi said he would like to import more
McMillan rifles but the State Department restricts these
imports, except on a pre-sold basis. He noted that Remington
rifles of the same quality, size, and technical
specifications were imported without this restriction. Post
requests guidance on this question.
7. (SBU) Post judged the security of the facilities to be
sufficient. The rifles were stored in a locked gun safe,
within a locked and alarmed building. The owner kept the key
to the safe with himself at all times. The alarms, one of
which was silent, were connected directly to a local police
station. Records seemed to be in good order. The enterprise
had only two employees, but the duo seemed capable and
legitimate.
DIBBLE
SIPDIS
PM/DTCC: BALLARD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC IT
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN CHECK ON LICENSE 050109951: RIFLES
REF: SECSTATE 1420
1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph
6.
2. (SBU) Summary: Post performed a Level 3 Blue Lantern
Post Shipment End Use Check on Ditta Individuale Adriano De
Rossi, a Rome-based bona fide gun dealer. The sensitive
items -- license number 050109951 -- were properly secured
and the company's management professed familiarity with US
export controls as well as restrictions on re-transfer of
sensitive items. The company asked for clarification on why
certain high precision rifles were approved for export
licenses by the State Department, while others that in the
company's view were almost identical, were rejected. End
Summary.
3. (SBU) Econoffs performed a site visit to Ditta
Individuale Adriano De Rossi, a Rome-based gun dealer on 20
January, 2009. De Rossi is the exclusive dealer for McMillen
rifles in Italy. It is also the exclusive supplier for EDM
Arms, Pedrot Ordinance Factory, US Optics, and Ebelstock.
The company was founded in 2004 as a shooting range called
"Shooting Paradise," and in 2007 began selling weapons. It
began to import sensitive weapons from the US in the summer
of 2008. It has annual revenue of about 90,000 Euros, though
its future revenue will be highly dependent upon securing
export licenses from the State Department, De Rossi said.
The other services sold by the company are sniper training
for ITALIAN Special Forces and production of reactive still
targets for long-range shooting. De Rossi said his company
refuses to provide sniper training to civilians. The company
also imports and tests rifles for the Carabinieri, Italy's
paramilitary police service.
4. (SBU) Econoffs verified the presence of 3 McMillan
TAC-308 Bolt Action Rifles, .308 WIN Caliber. One gun listed
in Ref A --a McMillan TAC 338 Bolt Action Rifle, serial
number 732 RLL - was not present; De Rossi said it was
serving as a demonstration unit with the Carabinieri. De
Rossi had imported one of the rifles as a demo unit for the
Italian Ministry of Defense, and hoped to secure a larger
contract if the ITALIAN government gave it favorable reviews.
De Rossi explained that the ITALIAN government prefers to
purchase weapons through ITALIAN intermediaries rather than
buying directly from a non-Italian foreign-based supplier.
De Rossi was familiar with the regulations governing the
import of US-origin defense articles, including restrictions
on re-transfer or re-export.
5. (SBU) De Rossi's regular customer is the ITALIAN
Ministry of Defense and, to a lesser extent, the Carabinieri.
The company also sells via gun shops to civilians who have
the appropriate licenses. The gun shops are located in
various provinces of Italy. De Rossi said ITALIAN law
prohibits selling a weapon to a non-resident. He also noted
that all purchases had to be accompanied by a form from the
buyer's local police station, to ensure the authorities knew
the location of all rifles. According to De Rossi, civilians
typically use the guns he sells for target practice, and
occasionally for the hunting of wild boar. De Rossi noted
that many customers wished to purchase .50 caliber versions
of high-precision rifles, but he was restricted under ITALIAN
law to selling .223 or .308 caliber rifles. These types of
rifles are typically sold to individual customers for sport
purposes.
6. (SBU) De Rossi said he would like to import more
McMillan rifles but the State Department restricts these
imports, except on a pre-sold basis. He noted that Remington
rifles of the same quality, size, and technical
specifications were imported without this restriction. Post
requests guidance on this question.
7. (SBU) Post judged the security of the facilities to be
sufficient. The rifles were stored in a locked gun safe,
within a locked and alarmed building. The owner kept the key
to the safe with himself at all times. The alarms, one of
which was silent, were connected directly to a local police
station. Records seemed to be in good order. The enterprise
had only two employees, but the duo seemed capable and
legitimate.
DIBBLE